Water control for closet tanks



Dec. 29, 1942-.

B. SVIRSKY WATER CONTROL FOR OLOSET TANKS `Filed Jn. 27, 1941 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 VWATER CONTROL FORKCLSE'ITANK Bennett svlrsky, Glendale, Calif., l'assigner to Sans, Incorporated, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California inplannen January 27, 1941,"serla'1 No. 376,185

4 claims. (ol. '137469) My invention relatesto Vimprovementsin a water control for closets, particularly of the low tanktype.

vMore speciiically, the invention pertains to improvementsin a water control relating to that part of the closet -tank which is known in the trade as a ball-cock.

Thislapplicatim is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 313,810, filed Jan. 15, 1940, now Patent No, 2,270,910, granted uan. 27, 1942;

Among the more important objects of the invention is toA improve upon the float valve controlled mechanism of the ball-cock whereby a more eilcient control and silencing of the flowing water is accomplished; to improve upon the mechanism ofthe ball-cock whereby a simpler, easieryand more efficient functioning antisyphoning means is provided; to improve upon the liftlever assembly and associated mechanism whereby a'widerrange in water Apressure systems is accommodated, thereby eliminating the use of water regulators; to provide as an article of manufacture anV improved plunger` adapted to be sold in the' trade with sink faucets and the like for breaking-up the water and acting as a'silencer;'and to provide in a' ball-cock an improved parts assembly an improved means whereby such patrts may be more quickly and conveniently assembled and disassembled.l

Water closets quite frequently come delivered to the customerY with the floor'portion in a slightly bowed or convexed condition. When the shank of the ball-cock is finally seated thereon, the ball-cock,'due to this upwardly curved condition of 1the floor,.is not maintained in a truly Yvertical position-.1. Hence,/when it becomes necessary to make repairs, such as replacing washers, valve seatsor other parts, it is quite difficult to unscrew the headl from thel standpipe since portions thereofY when"rotatedfcontact with the side of theztankY preventing rcomplete rotation of the head. In theparent case too, the seat which screwed into the standpipe permitted irregularities to become established, necessitated by virtue of wear or reg-assembly, wherein at times the proper relation between the plunger, its seat and lever for actuating the plunger, ceased to exist whereby theplunger actuating lever if not carefully inspected and checked might fail in its function.

It is therefore a still further object to provide an improved device wherein these difficulties have been remedied notwithstanding the existance of certain irregularities in construction aforementioned. 3 f i With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination ofparts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed,-

it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of kthe invention herein disclosed maybe madewithin the scope of that which is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1 v

Referringfto the drawing wherein is shownl a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe improved ballcockassembly shown positioned in a closet tank and associated with a conventional flush valve, the tank being `shown in section and containing a body of water, the rise andfall vof which Yopens or closesthe stop-cock of thevassembly.-

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical mid-section showing the device .per se with the parts in closed position likin Fig. 1, a portion ofthe structure being broken away to shorten the view.- Some elements of the deviceare shown in side elevation anda floor portion of the closetltank is ineluded -in the view. 1 l

Fig. .3 isan extended View in side elevation on a'larger scale ofthe partsof the ballcock which are attachable to thehead porticnrof thestandpipe and adjacent working parts;

Fig. 4 isa section taken on lined- 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. '5 is asection .taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a planview of the cup'perv se showing Va modified quickturn thread.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown inFig.6. f

Referring in detail to the drawing and to the figures as a whole, the water controlcomprises in general a ball-cock assembly 4, including the Vfloatrod 5, the iloat 6 for actuating the valve or plunger 'l of the balli-cock, and ak re-iill tube 8 associatedwith the overow pipe of the flush valve'lil.`

' The ballcock 4 and the flush valve I0 in Fig. 1v are shown mounted and operatively positioned in the closet tank I I. I The ball-cock is connected to a source of water supply I2 through the medium of the shut-off valve I3, the supplypipe I4, and the combined conventional coupling nut and washer connection I5. 'Ihere is also provided a Vcone washer I6 and lock nut I1 for joining `the ball-cock shank Ils in a'leakfproofema'nner"with the floor portion IIf of the tank.

Thev numeral lindicates the tubular portion of the standpipe 18p ofthe ball-cock, which is shown as comprising a piece of standard copper water tubing sweated onto the ball-cock shank I'Is at its lower end and sweated onto the valve cup Hb at its upper end. Said cup IIb` is shown with a modied quick turn thread 29t in Figs. 6 and '7 wherein a less partial turn disengages the cup and cap. Said standpipe extends from beneath the floor of the tank to the cap structure I9 wherein the breaking up of the water and the anti-syphoning mechanism is housed. The upper end of the cup I9 is externally threaded at (20t in Figs. 6 and '7) whereby to screw the cap structure I9 thereon and by preference the threads are of the quick turn type topermit complete detachability without making a complete turn.

Adjacent the threaded end 2| of the ballcock shank there is provided an annular flange 22 which has a bottom at face 23 against which the washer I6 is wedged when the lock nut I'I is tightened, thus compressing the washer to make a leak proof joint with the floor of the tank.

Aside from the quick turn thread 26 or 20t previously mentioned, the cup I'Ib. is provided with a vertically and horizontally extending circumferential flange 20a and 2Gb. The vertical part 23a` forms a shoulder which seats snugly within the bottom opening of the cap, and the horizontal part 29h underlies the lower edge of the cap to form a stop.

The peculiar jointing and sealing of the metal against metal with an application of intervening grease to the parts just described prevents the unscrewing of the quick turn threaded joint due to vibration and functioning of the working parts.

Subjacent the ange 29h the cup is contracted to form a cylindrically shaped body 20d having a horizontal closure wall 20g. The body 29d and ange 2Gb meet each other at a sharp angle thereby permitting the upper edge of the tubing I8 when sweated onto the cylindrical body to abut said flange 29h.

` The wall' 20g is provided with a screw threaded bore 29a: which is tapped so as to have its axis coincide with that of the tubing into which the body 20d is sweated. Into this threaded bore is screwed one end of the valve seat 25. Said seat is provide-d with an internal bore 26 concentric with the axis of the standpipe. The body portion 2l of the valve seatis constructed of a polygonal shape and of a suitable size to provide for the application of a socket wrench thereover whereby to render the valve detachable. Thus when the valve is removed for any reason and replaced, the fixed relation of itself with the parts with which it is associated can be unalterably maintained.

The upper end of the valve seat is reduced to a cylindrical shape 28 and the end is rounded 01T to provide a valve seat 29. The cup I'Ilby is internally machined to provide a working surface along which the plunger travels when it is elevated from time to time. Said plunger is of an inverted cup shape to provide within it a chamber 3|, and in said chamber is mounted a washer 32 which normally rests on the seat 29, and at such time a considerable portion of the valve seat extends into the chamber 3l as shown in Fig. 2.

The plunger is provided with a stem 33, and on the stem is slidably mounted the anti-syphon, anti-splash washer 34. The external peripheral wall of the plunger is provided with a pair of spiral grooves 35 and 35a through which the water passes from the standpipe to the tank.

The function of the grooves is to divide the water into streams so as to silence its flow and although I show a pair of spiral grooves I consider it within the province of the claimed invention` to use equivalent water passages of diverse shapes extending in diverse directions formed in the outer face of the plunger which may work equally as well to break up the water and silence its flow.

Gn the upper end of the standpipe I screw the cap structure I9. Said structure has a cylindrical portionf43 which is threaded at 4I to mate the thread 29, and when the standpipe and cap are fully attached the faced end of the cup forms a seat 42 whereon the washer 34 restsv when the ball-cock is not functioning.

The cylindrical part is provided with a closure 43 which is provided with a hole 4,4 concentric with the axis of the standpipe through which the stem 33 operates.

The stem 33 abuts against the lower side of one of a pair of tandem contacting levers 45 and 46, the closure part 43 being provided with a bifurcation 41 wherebetween to pivot the lever 45 by means of the `cotter pin 48.

Arranged circumferentially, in the upper part of the cylindrical part 40 adjacent theclosure 43 are a plurality of radially extending, antisyphon holes 49. l

To the hexagonal portion 40a of the part 40 I attach as an integral part the spout 5U, provided with the passage 5I. The outlet end portion of said passage is internally screw threaded and therein is screwed the tanks ll pipe 52. On the spout I provide an upward extension 53 which is bifurcated at 54 and in the bifurcation I mount the lever 46 by means of the c otter pin 55. A stop 56 is provided on said extension whereagainst the lever 46 rests when the tanky I l is empty. The lever 46 is threaded at 51, and the float rod 5 has one end 'screwed thereinto, while to the opposite end is aflixed the float 6.A

The washer 34 is provided with a sleeve portion 34s, and this sleeve isslidable on the stem 33 together with its downwardly ilared portion 34j of the washer proper. Said washer is cupped in order that the water egressing from the grooves 35, 35a will travel first along its cupped face thereby exerting a lifting action and avoiding any tendency of the washerr to tilt, which would promote friction between the sleeve and stem. v

An annular stop flange 58 is provided in the inner wall of the cylinder 40 to limit the upward thrust of the washer by the inowing water at a point adjacent where the opening 5I enters the discharge chamber 59 as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, no air entering the holes 49 is entrapped within the pipe 52, and when the tank has filled the Washer gravitates to seating position, thereby permitting air to enter the holes 49 and eliminate Vany tendency of the water in the tank to ybe free end 6l. ofthe lever 45. The leverr45r has'a lower cam face 62a which engages the upper end of the stem 33 to exert a powerful downward pressurethereagainst under the urge of the nose portion of the lever 46.

As the oat is elevated, the nose end 60 depresses the free end portion 6| of the lever 45 to force the plunger downwardly with added force to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The pipe 52 has its terminal end 62 somewhat attened and bevelled in order to direct the flattened stream which issues therefrom against the tubing I8 of the standpipe in a flatwise manner, to produce an additional initial silencing effect. This ilattened pipe end also causes thewater to build up in the pipe so as to assure a slight overflow feed into the refill pipe 8 to provide for water in the bowls trap in case it has all been sucked out when the bowl is Ilushed.

A description of the operation will now be set forth. n

In Figs. 1 and 2, the parts are shown in the relation they assume when the tank has been lled.

When the flush valve is operated, the float 6 follows the fall of the water until the lever 45 comes to rest against the stop 56. As the iloat gradually falls the lever 46 moves about its pivotal joint 55 in a clockwise direction thereby elevating its nose end. Due to the freedom of pressure of the nose against the free end 6I of the lever 45, the pressure of the water in the standpipe, or valve casing I8 acts against the plunger 1 and in turn causes the stem 33 to move upwardly, thereby maintaining the contacting association oi numbered parts 655 and 6|.

As soon as the washer 32 is elevated from its seat 29, Water ilows through the grooves 35 and 35a and is broken up and silenced by them. On egressing under the washer 34 the water elevates the washer from its resting position to its working position against the flange 58, said washer being guided in its upward movement by the sleeve 34s until its peripheral edge contacts with the annular stop flange 58, thereby permitting water to ilow through the spout opening and through the tank fill tube 52 into the tank. While the tank is filling, water is backed up in the pipe 52,

due to its flattened mouth and a sub-ow is created through the rell tube 8 into the overflow pipe 9 for the purpose hereinbefore stated. The washer 34 also prevents the water from being splashed through the anti-syphon holes 49 and further aids in directing the water into the spouts opening.

As the oat gradually rises due to the rise of the water in the tank, the nose end of the lever 46 acts on the free end of the lever 45 to depress it, thereby gradually forcing the stem of the plunger downwardly until the washer 32 is fully seated and stops the ow Of the water. As soon as the latter operation takes place,.the washer 34 due to its weight and freeworking fit gravitates to rest against its seat 42, permitting air to enter the holes 49 and thereby preventing any tendency of the water to be syphoned from the tank into the main line whereby it might become polluted.

By the peculiar construction of the lever mechanism I am able to control a much wider range of water pressure than is at present accomplishable without the use of auxiliary water pressure controls.

When it is necessary to make repairs, such as renewing washers or in making inspection, the cotter pin 55 is removed preparatory to detaching the lever 46, and the cap alone is unscrewed by simply eiec'tin'ga'partial turn as a result of the quick turn thread, the other parts remaining in place. After the cap has been removed the plunger and washer may be lifted out and if necessary a socket wrench applied to the valve for unscrewingrit from its seat. Thus, little if any lateral stress is placed on the joint-connection of the ball-cock with the bottom of the tank whereby its leak-proof condition might become impaired. l

What is claimed is:

1. In a ball-cock, a valve containing cup, a valve body, provided with an inlet and a seat at the end of said inlet, detachably mounted in said cup, there being a plunger space in said cup, a plunger provided with a stem, said plunger being slidable in said plunger space and normally closing said inlet, said plunger having divided passages in its external face extending from top to bottom thereof for dividing water issuing from said inlet therethrough into streams, a cap structure screwed onto said cup, said cap structure havinga discharge chamber in a vertically spaced relation to said plunger space, said plunger stem extending through said chamber and thence through a hole in said cap structure, a spout attached to said cap structure, there being a plurality of anti-syphon holes in the wall of said chamber, said spout having a passage-way which communicates with said' chamber subjacent to said anti-syphon holes, an annular seat in said cap structure between said spout passageway and said anti-syphon holes, and a washer slidably mounted upon said stem land movable by streams of water from a rest position below the passageway of said spout to a position against said annular seat thereabove wherein communication is closed between said anti-syphon holes and said passage-way of said'spout.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 and, said cup being provided with a quick turn thread and said cap having a corresponding mating thread.

3. The subject matter of claim l and, said cup having a vertically extending circumferential flange snugly tting within the opening of the crap into lwhich the threaded end of said cup is screwed and said cup also having a horizontal flange adjacent said vertically extending flange abuttingly underlying the body portion of the cap forming said opening.

4. In a ball-cock, a valve containing cup, a

passages in its external face extending from top to bottom thereof, for dividing Water issuing ,from said inlet therethrough into streams, a cap structure screwed onto said cup, said cap structure having a discharge chamber in a vertically spaced relation to said plunger space, said plunger stem extending through said chamber and thence through a hole in said cap structure, a spout attached to said cap structure, there being a plurality of anti-syphon holes in the wall of said chamber, said spout having a passage-way which communicatesv With said chamber subjacent to said anti-syphon holes, an annular seat in said cap structure between said spout passage-Way and said anti-syphon holes,v and a Washer slidably mounted upon said stem and movable by streams of water from a rest position below the passageway of said spout to a position against said annular seat thereabove wherein communication is closed between said anti-syphon holes and said passage-Way of said spout, said Cup being provided With a quick turn thread and said cap having a corresponding mating thread, said cup having a vertically extending circumferential flange snugly tting Within the opening of the cap into which the threaded end of said cup is screwed and said cup also having a horizontal ange adjacent said vertical ange abuttingly underlying the body portion of the cap forming said opening.

BENNETT SVIRSKY. 

